Energy aggregation system

Abstract

An energy aggregation system comprises a bus configured to receive power from one or more power sources and to deliver power to a grid connected to the bus; at least one energy storage system connected to the bus and configured either to draw power from the bus or discharge power to the bus; at least one electric vehicle charging stall connected to the bus and configured to deliver power, from an electric vehicle load connected to the at least one electric vehicle charging stall, to the bus; and at least one control module configured to monitor power on the bus and control delivery of power from the bus to the grid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy aggregation system comprising:
 a bus configured to receive power from one or more power sources and to deliver power to a grid connected to the bus;   at least one energy storage system connected to the bus and configured either to draw power from the bus or discharge power to the bus;   at least one electric vehicle charging stall connected to the bus and configured to deliver power, from an electric vehicle load connected to the at least one electric vehicle charging stall, to the bus; and   at least one control module configured to monitor power on the bus and control delivery of power from the bus to the grid.   
     
     
         2 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of electric vehicle charging stalls, each electric vehicle charging stall configured to deliver power, from an electric vehicle load connected to the electric vehicle charging stall, to the bus. 
     
     
         3 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 2 , comprising at least one renewable energy source configured to deliver power to the bus. 
     
     
         4 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one renewable energy source comprises at least one solar power and/or wind power source. 
     
     
         5 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one control module is configured to control delivery of power from the bus to the grid according to a setpoint. 
     
     
         6 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 5 , wherein the setpoint is determined by an operator of the grid. 
     
     
         7 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one control module is configured to condition operation of the at least one energy storage system either to draw power from the bus or discharge power to the bus in order to balance power on the bus. 
     
     
         8 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one control module is configured to (i) condition the at least one energy storage system to draw power from the bus when excess power is on the bus and the state of charge of the at least one energy storage system is below an upper state of charge level, and (ii) condition the at least one energy storage system to discharge power to the bus when insufficient power is on the bus and the state of charge of the at least one energy storage system is above a lower state of charge level. 
     
     
         9 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 8 , wherein power on the bus is balanced according to the equation: 
       
         
           
             
               P_ESS 
               = 
               
                 
                   P_ 
                   ⁢ 
                   2 
                   ⁢ 
                   grid_ref 
                 
                 - 
                 P_renewable 
                 - 
                 
                   ∑ 
                   
                     P_EV 
                     ⁢ 
                     _Loads 
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
          where: 
         P_ESS is the power drawn from or discharged to the bus by the at least one energy storage system; 
         P_2grid_ref is the setpoint; 
         P_renewable is the power delivered to the bus by the at least one renewable power source; and 
         ΣP_EV_Loads is the total power delivered to the bus by electric vehicle loads connected to the electric vehicle charging stalls. 
       
     
     
         10 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 3 , wherein the bus is a direct current (DC) bus, and wherein the at least one renewable energy source, the at least one energy storage system and the electric vehicle charging stalls deliver DC power to the DC bus. 
     
     
         11 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of each renewable energy source, and each energy storage system is connected to the DC bus via a DC to DC converter. 
     
     
         12 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 11 , wherein each renewable energy source, and each energy storage system is connected to the DC bus via a DC to DC converter. 
     
     
         13 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 10 , wherein each electric vehicle charging stall comprises a DC to DC converter module and an electric vehicle charging interface. 
     
     
         14 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 13 , wherein each DC to DC converter module comprises a DC to AC converter, a high frequency step down transformer, and an AC to DC converter connected in series. 
     
     
         15 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 10 , wherein the grid is an alternating current (AC), three phase utility grid and the energy aggregation system further comprises power conditioning circuitry to filter and convert DC power on the bus to AC power for delivery to the grid. 
     
     
         16 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 3 , wherein the bus is an alternating current (AC) bus, and wherein the at least one renewable energy source, the at least one energy storage system and the electric vehicle charging stalls deliver AC power to the AC bus. 
     
     
         17 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 16 , wherein each renewable energy source, and each energy storage system is connected to the AC bus via a DC to AC converter. 
     
     
         18 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 16 , wherein each electric vehicle charging stall comprises a DC to AC converter module and an electric vehicle charging interface. 
     
     
         19 . The energy aggregation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy storage system is at least one battery energy storage system comprising a plurality of rechargeable batteries.